DETROIT—Dave Bell, director of Detroit’s building department, and Cynthia Bell, a retired school teacher, had a wonderful time at Shen Yun Performing Arts’ opening show at the Detroit Opera House.
“The choreography is very good. The dancing is very good. The costumes are amazing,” Mr. Bell exclaimed as he exited the venue. “Everything is just very, very good. We really enjoyed it.”
“The [flips and tumbling techniques,] … when you do those flips like eight, ten feet in the air and the feet, the legs are together—they know they’re going to come down perfectly. It’s amazing! You don’t see that anywhere else.”
Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance—an art form with a history spanning thousands of years, celebrated for its athleticism and expressive power. What many may not realize is that numerous tumbling techniques often associated with gymnastics and acrobatics actually originate from classical Chinese dance.
According to the company’s website, the classical Chinese dance seen in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern styles. Only at Shen Yun can the audience experience it in its purest form, preserved as it was passed down through generations.
Cynthia and Dave Bell enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at the Detroit Opera House on April 24, 2026. Charlie Lu/The Epoch Times
Mrs. Bell, too, was very impressed with the dancers’ skill. She also praised the company’s 3D digital backdrop, which seamlessly interacts with the performers on stage, creating a magical effect that enhances the storytelling.
“I am thoroughly enjoying this show. I just think the dancers are doing a phenomenal job,” she shared.
“I love the ... effects, the visual effects [of] how they’re going from on the stage to on the screen. The costumes are phenomenal, just absolutely beautiful. I am thoroughly enjoying this show.”
A particularly memorable piece for Mrs. Bell was a story-dance that raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice whose followers strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
“It was interesting—the [belief,] the persecution,” she said. “They were trying to worship, trying to meditate, worship God, [yet] they were being punished for it.”
Though Shen Yun has received widespread acclaim since its inception in 2006, due to the artists’ focus on reviving traditional culture and presenting the truth of events under communist rule in present-day China, it is currently forbidden by the regime from performing there.
Reflecting on the company’s mission to revive China’s 5,000-year-old traditional culture and moral values, Mr. Bell said he appreciates the dedication.
“The people wanting the teacher to teach them, wanting to learn from the master, that’s always a connection for me,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of masters in my career, and I always look to learn from the best, so that connected with me.”
Mr. Bell highly recommends that anyone who hasn’t yet seen Shen Yun seize the opportunity before the 2026 touring season concludes.
“I really, really enjoyed it,” he said. “I suggested other people come out and watch it.”
This season, Shen Yun’s eight touring companies brought their stunning performances to over 200 cities worldwide. With a brand-new program each year, the company’s 20th anniversary marks another season full of fresh surprises for both first-time and returning audiences alike.
